FRONT OFFICE REPORT Veteran staff, fresh ideas help sustain popularity

GM Andy Milovich expects about 5,000 fans every night.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- The Mahoning Valley Scrappers' last-place finish in 2001 and an economy that continues to recover will not slow the organization at the ticket window this season.
That is the foresight of general manager Andy Milovich, who remains confident the fourth-year club will continue to draw fans to Cafaro Field.
"We haven't seen major increases or declines in any one particular area," said Milovich, 33. "We're expecting 5,000 people a night, kind of what we've done the past three years."
In 37 home dates last season, the Scrappers drew 181,000 fans, an average of 4,900 per game, ranking them fourth in the New York-Penn League behind Brooklyn, Lowell and Staten Island. Mahoning Valley's average attendance mark has decreased slightly each year. It topped the 200,000 plateau in each of the first two seasons, averaging 5,600 and 5,400, respectively, to lead the league.
But new stadiums in Brooklyn and Staten Island have bumped the Scrappers from the top spot.
"As time goes on, you have to come up with new things to keep it fresh and innovative," Milovich said. "Each year you try to be more and more aggressive in terms of getting people to the ballpark."
Smooth transition
Milovich calls this year's staff the best the organization has assembled since its berth in 1999.
"We had very little turnover. We have a lot of experience," he said. "Things should run very smoothly this year."
Pressing the staff into duty in the off-season was the expiration of three-year contracts that season ticket holders signed in '99.
"In years past it was a matter of sending out confirmation letters to everybody, get them excited for the season," Milovich said. "This year we had to connect with them and get them to commit again."
Milovich said there was "some success" in getting fans to recommit.
"We had some other people who pursued 10-game packages or different ticket options versus three-year commitments," he said.
Keeping ideas fresh to attract fans, the Scrappers will introduce new promotions, such as the Mahoning Valley Legends Bobblehead Doll Series and Monday NASCAR Nights.
"We're going to be as aggressive and innovative as we can and have some fun and hopefully make people laugh, smile and enjoy themselves," Milovich said. "We'll see where we end up at the end of the year."
Other duties
Meanwhile, Milovich continues to spend more time helping Palisades Baseball's other minor league teams in Erie, Pa., and South Bend, Ind.
"All three teams are working closer and closer together," he said.
Still, the South Bend native has no immediate plans to leave the Scrappers.
"It's been a great four years that I've lived here. It's hard to believe it's been four," Milovich said. "I'm getting more involved with the company on a larger scale, in terms of the other teams, but I'm still involved with the franchise that I was able to start from scratch."
That franchise has been at the Class A short-season level since its inception. Nothing appears set to change, Milovich said.
"Short-season baseball is one of the best-kept secrets in minor league baseball," he said. "You go to Jacobs Field or Erie or South Bend or Akron in April and May ... it's a struggle to get people to the ballpark because of the weather battles you have.
"I don't anticipate any change, but you never say never."
richesson@vindy.com